Two other YouTube channels received similar notices from YouTube. None specified a reason for the takedown.
By NL Team
The central government has asked YouTube to remove digital news outlet National Dastak’s channel from the streaming portal under the amended IT Rules, the outlet said on Monday. National Dastak is owned and run by Shambhu Kumar Singh, a journalist turned politician who is contesting as an independent candidate from Bihar’s Vaishali in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
National Dastak tweeted saying it received a notice from YouTube on April 3 that did not cite a reason for the takedown. It also claimed that YouTube channel Article 19 had been sent a notice too.
“The government wants to shut down National Dastak…All this is happening while the model code of conduct is in effect. Lakhs of newspapers and TV news channels are running. So much fear of Bahujan’s National Dastak,” the tweet said.
National Dastak describes itself as “online media” and a “strong voice of Dalits, Adivasis, backwards, women, farmers, minorities and those marginalised”. Its X account has been posting appeals to “support” Singh and fund his political campaign.
This story was originally published in newslaundry.com. Read the full story here.